Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

radfordc,

I have switched from 10 inches of pitch on my props to 8 inches. This is s.o.p. for me when the plane has less than desirable landing qualities. Allows for a higher throttle setting on approach which seems to improve it's characteristics. Try it! Doesn't seem to appreciably slow the plane down as it's turning more rpm's on the ground.

simple

My Feedback: (9)

Tribute Model to the P-40 Ruggedness

1st Lt. Gregory Boyington (Pappy)
#21 1st. Pursuit Squadron AVG
Kunming China 1941

Battle Damage right wing & aileron / Japanese 20mm Cannon / Kunming - Dec. 1942
Test flight #3 Video: http://youtu.be/LmRvbPUGryA?list=UUg...P_IelBiO4ICITQ

JB P40C Vic fiberglass fuse and Sierra retracts and the original: Vicrc P-40c: http://www.vicrc.com/products_p40.htm
The battle damaged is tribute to the P-40 bruit strength and is custom designed & reinforced using a Titanium aileron spar, all aluminum structure, HD hinges and 6v. High Torque metal gear servo's.

All protruding damaged materials are actually tucked into the blast cavity and out of the slipstream to reduce potential flutter. The noticeable effect is less lift and aileron effectiveness. The plane exhibits center wing stall followed by a right wing tip. The landing is fast & tail low. Increased flap settings may help reduce the stall allowing slower landing speed (?maybe?). This wont 3 Point (yet). Just setting up for a 3 point attitude induces stall so a tail-low slightly faster than normal approach works.

I did drop down to an 8 pitch for the last two flights and its less pitchy on landing. Whats the best scale looking 19" & 20" 3 bladed prop? I did not want to test too many things at the same time but its ready for one now.

simple

My Feedback: (9)

Fight #4. Engine leaned 1/8 turn both high & low end.
Heavy yanking and banking + Loop & Dive test @ 3:40sec.
Not a high performance prop for this test. (Master Airscrew 20x8)
Used increased flap setting to reduce landing speed.
Video: http://youtu.be/rehL93YNSBY?list=UUg...P_IelBiO4ICITQ

<iframe width="300" height="169" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rehL93YNSBY?list=UUgFPAj1RLP_IelBiO4ICITQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

Nice flight sequence and a really nice flying field. Thanks for sharing!

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

Question for the brotherhood,
P40 , wheels retract and when under full power she climbs , is she nose heavy ?
Glide is perfact and so is mid speed range , but full throttle she climbs ?
Thanks

Corsair2013

My Feedback: (2)

simple

My Feedback: (9)

Not an expert, but the rotation of the main gear is changing your CG to slight tail heavy.
I have flown P-40's, Corsairs, B-25's, P-38's & P-61's all with heavy rear folding gear and they all have the same slight climb and that's why I CG these planes gear up.

As Corsair2013's graphic shows when the CG is moved forward by the rear folding gear the plane will climb. This will reverse when the gear is down.
Essentially you will always have two CG settings one for each gear position and you will need to adjust trim or program slight adjustments with the gear switch. Each planes battery, fuel, servo placement, retracts, tire & wheel weight will vary the degree of change but it will change.

rcjake

WOW! 45 pages and going strong!!!

Since my computer is slow and it would take forever to read all of these pages to hopefully find an answer to my question, I thought I would ask now. Hopefully, this has not been asked before.

I have a Top Flite Gold Edition P-40 that a very good friend built, but never completed. It is covered and painted, but I never received the air retracts with it. So, I would like to install electric retracts in it. Can anyone recommend a good set of retracts and struts for this P-40?

Here is are photos of my P-40.




Jake

p510851

My Feedback: (60)

Hi Jake here are some really nice electric retracts made for this plane from WingSpan products. look really strong and should do the trick. I dealt with them before and they are really very helpful.
Tony
https://wingspanretracts.3dcartstores.com/LGR630T

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Jerry, if you do some research here I think you will find that the very best option for .60 size rotaters are those from Sierra. They come complete with functional struts and are bullet proof. I have a set that will be going in my next Hellcat.

dutchy50

I would NOT recommend, staying well clear from Wingspan electric retracts, absolute rubbish are there retracts, had nothing but trouble with these. Would only work sometime and at times not work at all!!!
Returned these twice to Wingspan to get repaired with no results, so I ended up selling these for $100 dollars for the pair! These were the latest retracts available LGR 630T. Ended up buying Sierrra air retracts instead. Hope that helps in not throwing your money away!!!!
dutchy50

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

I have never tried electric retracts, but can speak with experience regarding Sierras. I have a set in my .60-size TF P-40 arf, and after 4 years of use, I have had to do absolutely nothing to them. They work every time.

That should just about cover it.

JeffH

My Feedback: (43)

Sounds like a little bit of down thrust is in order.
Not only does the gear cause a CG change, there is quite a bit of drag that pulls the nose down when the gear are down. This is true of any retractable gear plane. Even my Dirty Birdy pattern plane trims different with gear up vs gear down.
Since you said that is OK at mid speed, then I suspect down trim is needed or a slight increase in positive incidence in the tail.
Stick a few washers behind your top stand offs and try again.

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

If your radio has a throttle-to-elevator mix, you could add a bit of down trim to the throttle stick.

JeffH

My Feedback: (43)

Adding a throttle to elevator mix could be bad. If you are low and slow, and decide to throttle up, you now have down elevator being added as you do so. You can turn the mix on and off, but sooner or later that will be forgotten and splat...

Full scale planes are always trimming their planes based on power settings. It is not so easy for us since we aren't traveling in a straight line for miles and miles. We want it to fly straight and level at all speeds which can be a challenge.

p510851

My Feedback: (60)

Hey LDM I hate to ask this but when you balanced the plane did you do it with the retracts retracted or down? the P40 and the corsair need to be balanced with the gear up as it changes the CG. I balance any of my planes with retracts with the gear up especially if its a trike gear. if it still climbs when you give power then i would put a bit of down thrust into the engine it solved the problem with my tri plane. I used 2 degrees. I would not mix it into the transmitter.

Corsair2013

My Feedback: (2)

You might try Down and Locked - http://downandlocked.com/

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

Looking Good!

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

Thanks guys , yes I always balance my P40ties with wheels up ( always ) .
Sounds like I do need some down trim , I will take her up high and play with the trim .
I have full flaps programed with down trim so I will have to test that as well because I have the flaps and trim working perfectly .
Thanks again !

dutchy50

Hello
Can someone please advise me on, balancing my Topflite kit built P-40 60 size??
Should the plane be slightly nose heavy? if so, should it be a lot or just slightly, how much?( i know, how long is a piece of string) maybe there is a formula to go by???
Also, should the wheels be retracted (up) because the C of G will be positioned further back then when the wheels and struts are down?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
dutchy50

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

dutchy50, I like LDM above always balance my P-40s with the gear retracted. That worked for my Ziroli, my Byron, and I have done the same on my Top Flight Gold version. Have not flown it yet but plan to soon.

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

Hi Dutchy,
I usully go even not nose down on the P40 because when the wheels extend on landing approach you will have a nose down CG from the weight of the wheels forward.
However if the nose is slightly down on CG that is also ok .
lastly if you google "how to determine Mac" its a great website that I keep handly on checking factory suggested CG vs my own choice .

dutchy50

Thanks LDM
Will work on trying that!
dutchy50

Packrat74

Hello everyone. I would like to join the P-40 Brotherhood. I have a Top Flite GS P-40 ARF that I did some detail work to. I am running a DLE-55RA with Robart retracts. I look forward to contributing to this thread.

simple

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This is a great show if you have not been. The explosives, the pilots, the event host and the crowd are a fun bunch to be around every year.
http://www.warbirdsovertherockies.com

Special thanks to Team Las Vegas & B. Young for their support.
#21 wins Best Static Display.
I added a close up of a B-17 to display the quality in unrivaled model builders who actually fly represented at this show.